Dixon having returned with a report of the coast being clear, we set off at dark and arrived at Big Salmon river about sun-rise on the 29th, with the loss of one boat having on board 2 twenty-four pounders and one cable. I cannot account for her having separated from us, as every possible exertion was made to keep the brigade as compact as possible. At Big Salmon we met the Oneidas, whom I had despatched the day previous, under the command of lieutenant Hill, of the rifle regiment. As soon as they had taken up their line of march along the shore of Big Sandy creek, I started with all the boats and arrived at noon at our place of destination about two miles up the creek. In this laborious and hazardous duty, I feel much indebted to major Appling, his officers, and men, for their exertions, having assisted my officers and seamen in rowing the boats without a moment's rest, twelve hours, and about half the time enveloped in darkness and deluged with rain; also, to some of the principal inhabitants of Oswego, who volunteered their services as pilots. At 2 A. M. on the 30th, I received your letter of the 29th, 6 P. M. per express, and agreeably to the order contained therein, sent lieutenant Pierce to look out as far as Stony Point. About 2 o'clock he returned, having been pursued by a gun-boat and three barges. The best possible disposition was made of the riflemen and Indians, about half a mile below our boats. About 8 A. M. a cannonading at long shot was commenced by the enemy, and believing, as I did, that no attempt would be made to land with their small force, I ordered lieutenant Pierce to proceed in erecting sheers and making preparations to unload the boats; and, as all the teams had retrograded in consequence of the cannonading, I sent in pursuit of them to return. About 9 o'clock captain Harris, with a squadron of dragoons, and captain Melvin, with a company of light artillery and two six pounders, arrived. Captain Harris, the commanding officer, agreed with me that this reinforcement should halt, as the troops best calculated for a bush fight were already on the ground, where they could act to the greatest advantage, and that the enemy, seeing a large reinforcement arrive, would most probably retreat. About 10, the enemy having landed and pushed up the creek with three gun-boats, three cutters, and one gig; the riflemen, under that excellent officer, major Appling, rose from their concealment, and after a smart fire of about ten minutes, succeeded in capturing all the boats and their erews, without one having escaped. At about 5 P. M. after having buried with the honours of war, Mr. Hoare, a British midshipman, killed in the action, I was relieved by captain Ridgely, whom you did me the honour to send to Sandy Creek for that purpose. All the prisoners, except the wounded, having been removed, and expecting another attack at night, I remained to assist captain Ridgely in that event: but yesterday morning, seeing nothing in the offing, I availed myself of my relief, and returned to this place. In performing, to the best of my abilities, the duties for which I was ordered to Oswego Falls, I have great satisfaction in acknowledging the unremitted exertions of lieutenant Pierce, sailing-master Vaughan, and midshipmen Mackey, Hart, and Caton; also to major Appling, his officers and men, for their kind assistance in the same duty. The report of killed, wounded, and prisoners, and also the number and description of the captured boats, has been already remitted by captain Ridgely and myself. Commodore Isaac Chauncey, I have the honour to be, &c. commanding U. S. forces on the Lakes. Extract of a letter from commodore Barney to the Secretary of “SIR, the Navy. "ST. LEONARD'S CREEK, June 11th, 1814. "My last was on the 9th instant. On the evening of the 9th, the enemy moved up with twenty barges, having received more force from the 74, at the mouth of the Patuxent. I met them, and after a short action drove them until dark, and returned to my anchorage. Yesterday they made a bold attempt; about 2 P. M. they moved up with twenty-one barges, one rocket barge, and two schooners in tow. On making their appearance, we went down on them; they kept up a smart fire for sometime, and seemed determined to do something decisive. But they soon gave way and retreated; we pursued them down the creek. At the mouth lay the eighteen gun schooner; she attempted to beat out, but our fire was so severe, she ran ashore at the entrance, and was abandoned. We still pursued, until the razee and brig opened upon us a brisk fire, which completely covered the schooner and the flying barges, &c. We must have done them considerable damage.' Extract of a letter from commodore Barney to the Secretary of the Navy. "ST. LEONARD'S CREEK, June 13th, 1814. "I had the honour of addressing you on the 11th instant, giving a short detail of our action with the enemy on the 10th. By information, they suffered much. The large schooner was nearly destroyed, having several shot through her at the water's edge; her deck torn up, gun dismounted, and main-mast nearly cut off about half-way up, and rendered unserviceable. She was otherwise much cut; they ran her ashore to prevent her sinking. The commodore's boat was cut in two; a shot went through the rocket boat; one of the small schooners, carrying two 32 pounders, had a shot which raked her from aft, forward; the boats, generally, suffered; but I have not ascertained what loss they sustained in men. 66 Yesterday a gentleman of this county, by the name of Parron, who lives at the mouth of the creek, came up, and said, that himself and brother had been taken and carried on board. That he had been landed from the commodore, to inform the inhabitants, that if they remained at home quietly, they should not be molested, but if on landing he found their houses deserted, he would burn them all, as he had done the house of a Mr. Patterson, and the barn of Mr. Skinner (our purser). Saturday and yesterday, the enemy were employed on the Patuxent River, in landing on the banks to plunder stock, &c. It was on Sunday evening they burnt the property of Mr. Patterson and Skinner. Mr. Parron informs me, that commodore Barrie, of the Dragon, always commanded, and is much disappointed at his defeats, for that he had wrote to admiral Cockburn, that if the admiral would send him a frigate and brig, he would most assuredly destroy the Flotilla. The frigate is the casta, the brig the Jusseur. They left only 200 men, and one small boat on board the Dragon, at the mouth of the Patuxent, so that there must have been in the affair on Friday, upwards of 800 men! They came with a band of music playing." June 20th, 1814, UNITED STATES' SHIP SUPERIOR, SACKETT'S HARBOR, SIR, Knowing that the enemy was constantly receiving naval and military stores at Kingston, by the St. Lawrence, I thought it might be practicable to surprise and capture a brigade of boats with stores on board, and either destroy or bring them off. For this purpose I directed lieutenant Gregory to take three gigs with only their crew and one settee in each boat, and proceed down the St. Lawrence, secrete himself on some of the islands, and watch a favourable opportunity to surprise a brigade of loaded boats, and either bring them off or destroy them, as circumstances would point out. Lieutenant Gregory left here with his party on the evening of the 15th instant, and proceeded to the "Thousand Islands," where he hauled his boats on shore and concealed them: saw two brigades of boats pass, one up the river with troops, of course too strong for our little party; the other down the river empty, and not worth taking. Lieutenant Gregory found the enemy had gun-boats stationed between Kingston and Prescott, within about six miles of each other, and that they had a telegraph look out, in almost every high island, so that they convey intelligence with great expedition. Yesterday morning, between 9 and 10 o'clock, lieutenant Gregory finding himself discovered, and a gun-boat close to him, he instantly formed the bold design to board her, which he did, and carried her without losing a man: one of the enemy was badly wounded. She proved to be the fine gun-boat Black Snake or Number 9, and mounted one eighteen pounder and manned with 18 men, chiefly royal marines, (a list of which is enclosed). Lieutenant Gregory nanned his prize and proceeded up the St. Lawrence, but was soon discovered and pursued by a very large gun-boat mounting two heavy guns and rowed with upwards of forty oars, which overhauled him fast. He kept possession of his prize until the enemy threw their shot over him; he then very reluctantly (but I think properly) took out all his prisoners and scuttled the gun-boat, which sunk instantly, and escaped the enemy although so heavily loaded. Lieutenant Gregory arrived safe this toning with all his prisoners. Permit me to recommend this gallant young officer to your notice and patronage. He is not surpassed by any of his grade in zeal, intelligence, and intrepidity. Sailing master Vaughan and Mr. Dixon, each commanding a gig under lieutenant Gregory, are entitled to my acknowledgments for their zeal and activity on all occasions to render service to their country, more particularly on the last expedition, when, from their knowledge of the river, they rendered the most important services by pointing out the proper chanuels to elude the pursuit of the enemy. Will you be pleased to direct in what manner the prisoners are to be disposed of. Secretary of the Navy. I have the honour to be, &c. Extract of a letter from general P. Stuart, of the Maryland militia, to the Secretary of War, dated June 23d, 1814. "I have ordered on to Washington, under an officer who is directed upon his arrival to report himself to you, five prisoners and one deserter. The prisoners were taken on the 21st instant by a detachment of Maryland militia under my command, aided by a squadron of horse from the district of Columbia, under the command of major Peter. "The cruel course of war waged by the enemy upon our extensive water courses, has forced me to call into service a great body of our militia. "I must express my thanks for the aid so promptly sent from your department. It was a source of considerable regret that major Peter of the artillery, notwithstanding his great exertions, could not join us till morning. By his aid, I feel confident we could have destroyed the enemy's schooner sent up to take off the residue of the tobacco. Major Peter's squadron acted with promptitude and ardor, displaying a temper which will render them essentially useful to the nation. The frequent juries which arise to the service from intelligence communicated to the enemy, have determined me to suffer no deserter to remain within my command." SIR, Sunday, June 25th, 1814.-10 A. M. This morning, at 4 A. M. a combined attack of the artillery, marine corps and flotilla, was made upon the enemy's two frigates, at the mouth of the creek. After two hours engagement, they got under way and made sail down the river. They are now warping round Point Patience, and I am now moving up the Patuxent with my flotilla. My floss is acting midshipman Asquith killed, and ten others killed and wounded. Mr. Blake, the bearer of this, was a volunteer in my barge. He will give you every other information. With respect, &c. The Secretary of the Navy. JOSHUA BARNEY. SIR, PHILADELPHIA, June 25th, 1814. On Sunday last the British frigate Belvidera captured a small schooner belonging to Indian river, about ten miles above Cape Henlopen; and after having her in possession thirty-four hours, ransomed her for 800 dollars. I was yesterday morning on the eve of leaving this, with about 30 officers and men, who are employed here in the equipment of the Guerriere, to join the flotilla, but received information that the Belvidera left the bay on the 21st. The flotilla is down as low as Egg Island Flats, from which it came up to New Castle only the day before the Belvidera came into the Bay, for the purpose of replenishing its provisions. With great respect, &c. JOHN RODGERS. The Secretary of the Navy. SIR, CAMP NEAR ST. LEONARD'S, June 26th, 1814. We decided on attacking the enemy this morning at daybreak; after two and a half or three hours cannonading, he * Mr. T. P. Andrews, of Washington, accompanied Mr. Blake; they both acted as captains of marines, under major William B. Barney.-Edit. |